DAVAO CITY – The state-owned People’s Television or PTV in Davao is going digital from the analog-type of broadcast transmission, coinciding with the inclusion of the Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS) and Data-casting System.
This was announced by PTV General Manager Dino Antonio Apolonio during the demonstration of the EWBS and the Data-casting System at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday.
Apolonio said PTV Davao has reached a milestone not only in adopting the EWBS and Data-Casting System, but also for jumpstarting its test broadcast using the digital telecommunication transmission.
The EWBS and Data-Casting Sytem project is a partnership undertaking of the government’s communication arm with Japan’s NEC and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Apolonio said the transition of PTV from analog to digital brings advantage to EWBS and Data-Casting, two Japanese technology that will boost real-time reporting of an impending emergency or disaster.
EWBS is a remote activation system for radio and TV while data-casting is a system of updates on weather, movement of storms, floods, landslides, traffic, and grid-lock road conditions.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier lauded the project as it will boost real-time reporting on disaster and emergencies.
Hashimoto Osamu of NEC said EWBS is a remote activation for radio and television that transmits alert or warning information to viewers and listeners about an impending disaster.
EWBS is a feature of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) system, which was initially created by Japan.
The ISDB-T standard has been adopted by more than 15 countries.
During NEC’s demonstration of the disaster information system at Marco Polo Hotel, Osamu said the network is now a promotional project conducted by PTV and Radyo Pilipinas.
It is aimed at mitigitating disaster risks on communities using the digital terrestrial service.
Osamu said warnings and information of weather disturbances can be received by people anytime and anywhere in 10 minutes before a disaster hits an area.
In Davao, for example, Central 911 will issue the warning and will then be transmitted to the television network carrying the EWBS.
NEC will hold training sessions on EWBS for PTV and Radyo Pilipinas personnel on March 8 and 9.
Meanwhile, PTV will also expand its regional stations in the Philippines.
According to Alex Paredes of PTV, the expansion will be implemented in key areas in Mindanao.
“We are looking at our TV stations and affiliates. Discussions with several applicants are ongoing,” he said. PTV, Paredes said has also been granted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) with higher channels.
Increasing its reach to remote areas is also part of its expansion plans of PTV for 2019. “We are embarking on calculated expansion. It’s in the planning stage,” he said.
Paredes sees PTV as an all-digital network in 7 to 10 years. (PNA)
